EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING

Q: How have Huawei and its Sri Lankan operations evolved?

Mohamed Rifky (MR): Founded in 1987 and operating in 170 countries, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, that provides integrated solutions in telecommunication networks, IT, smart devices and cloud services.

Huawei invests substantially in research and development, continuously pushing technological boundaries, and introducing cutting-edge products and services, ably supported by a team of more than 200,000 employees worldwide.

Having entered the Sri Lankan market in the 2000s, Huawei has made notable contributions to the advancement of technology in the country. I have witnessed firsthand how Huawei engineers played a vital role in shaping the next generation of mobile networks while bringing a host of sustainable benefits to the nation and its people over the last 13 years.

Huawei continues to collaborate with local operators and enterprises to deploy advanced technologies, upgrade networks, improve connectivity and accelerate the country towards being a digital nation.

Within a short span, Huawei Sri Lanka has been recognised as part of the esteemed list of ‘50 Best Workplaces™’ in Sri Lanka in 2022, and won two new awards for being among the ‘15 Best Workplaces for Millennials’ in Sri Lanka in 2022 and ‘Excellence in Encouraging Opportunities for Innovation.’

Huawei is a key player in the introduction of innovative products and solutions at competitive commercial rates to increase affordability and accessibility. We can all remember when subscribers had to bear higher call charges – even for incoming calls.

In keeping with Huawei’s vision and mission, our innovative approach to affordable products and services enabled operators to transfer those cost benefits to end users by lowering voice and data charges.

Q: What made Huawei what it is today?

Kavinda Manjula (KM): I firmly believe it is the unique philosophy of how we engage with our customers and manage the business. With this customer-centric approach, we aim to understand and anticipate customer requirements, deliver innovative solutions and maintain customer satisfaction.

We also inspire the dedication of employees and strive for continuous improvement, encouraging our staff members to be committed, hardworking and persistent in achieving their goals.

And we promote growth by reflection where every employee is requested to self-reflect and through this, we become better partners for our customers and create value for them.

We also strongly believe in perseverance in achieving our goals.

These four core values have shaped Huawei’s trajectory over the last 20 years – leading to it being placed in 96th position on the Fortune Global 500 list and ranked ninth among the world’s top 10 most valuable brands in 2022.

Q: How has Huawei sought to boost engineering talent in Sri Lanka?

MR: Huawei has been instrumental in building an ecosystem of engineering talent in Sri Lanka – within Huawei itself and for numerous industry verticals. We presently employ more than 150 engineers across multiple engineering specialisations.

Recently, we were recognised by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) as a training organisation. This is a significant milestone for Huawei Sri Lanka as it enables our engineers to progress towards chartered membership with the institute, thereby aiding their professional growth.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, we launched the ‘Huawei Asia-Pacific Seeds for the Future’ programme for university students to undergo ICT training, which encourages regional participation in the digital community, and creates links between countries and cultures.

Q: And how has Huawei contributed to ICT development in Sri Lanka?

Nadun Gunawardana (NG): I am proud to say that Huawei is changing the ICT landscape in Sri Lanka with innovative solutions in developing digital and smart infrastructure, such as fifth generation (5G) technology, fibre broadband infrastructure and enterprise solutions.

We work closely with public and private sector organisations in their journey of digital transformation by sharing our global project experience, as well as providing cutting-edge products and solutions, such as next generation ‘datacom,’ optical transmission solutions, and ultra-reliable IT infrastructure like All Flash storage and intelligent collaboration solutions.

Moreover, we pioneered the designing and building of the first Tier 3 data centre and first hybrid cloud deployment in Sri Lanka. Huawei completed the first 5G millimetre wave trial in Sri Lanka and achieved 5G download speeds greater than 4 Gbps.

We also offer an array of rural coverage solutions that are ideal for remote areas in Sri Lanka.

In addition, the company is supporting Sri Lanka’s energy security by improving renewable energy yield through digital power solutions that employ smart inverters and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to optimise performance.

I am excited about our contribution to the development of digital talent and dissemination of innovative engineering techniques amongst the local engineering community. We have established state-of-the-art laboratories in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the engineering faculties of the University of Moratuwa and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).

These joint innovation labs provide software and hardware required for ICT application development by students to innovate and research cutting-edge technologies, and help train engineers in real world industrial environments using Huawei equipment to obtain industry recognised Huawei certifications. The goal of this initiative is to cultivate talent in emerging technologies such as 5G, cloud computing and AI.

In collaboration with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Huawei jointly launched the NAITA-Huawei Information and Communication Technology Academy to train students in real world telecommunication environments using Huawei equipment to obtain industry recognised Huawei certifications. The academy trained over 260 people by April.

Q: What key communication projects has Huawei delivered in Sri Lanka?

KM: Huawei engages with all telecom operators in Sri Lanka and has been working closely with them to build their networks over the last 20 years. We continue to work with telecom operators to introduce the latest technology to Sri Lanka.

We’ve successfully deployed 2G, 3G and 4G networks with thousands of base stations across the country. We have also deployed 5G trial networks in Sri Lanka. These networks are supported by Huawei’s state-of-the-art switching centre technologies to deliver the best voice and broadband services to all Sri Lankans.

We all remember when we were forced to rely on broadband technology for remote working, online schooling for our kids, online shopping and online banking during the lockdowns. During this period, Huawei teams worked around the clock to expand telecom networks to provide good internet connections. When everyone counted on a broadband connection, they depended on Huawei technology to deliver that high-speed internet connection.

Huawei is the only vendor in Sri Lanka that has the capacity to plan telecom networks, deliver network equipment, install and commission networks, and also operate and carry out end-to-end maintenance of telecom networks. We perform fully managed services for the entire telecom network in Sri Lanka, which is made possible with Huawei’s global capabilities coupled with local engineering talent.

Q: And what are the main ICT projects that Huawei has delivered in Sri Lanka?

NG: Huawei has played a pivotal role in delivering key ICT projects in Sri Lanka, contributing to the nation’s digital transformation across various sectors. We have actively collaborated with the government and enterprise sector entities in education, finance, transportation and manufacturing to enhance their operations and systems with digital capabilities.

In collaboration with local telecommunications service and ICT providers, we successfully deployed the Huawei Cloud Online stack. This advanced cloud solution offers an exceptional user experience and can be combined with unparalleled connectivity options. Our hybrid cloud solutions are specifically designed to meet onshore data sovereignty requirements, making them particularly suitable for sectors such as finance and government.

Recognising the importance of renewable energy, Huawei has also supported Sri Lanka’s commitment to increasing renewable energy generation. Through the infusion of cutting-edge digital and internet technology, we have developed a state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system solution.

This solution is poised to become one of the largest scale projects of its kind in Sri Lanka, contributing to the expansion of utility scale PV power generation, and demonstrating our dedication to driving digital innovation and sustainable development in Sri Lanka.

Q: How has Huawei looked to make technology accessible to all?

Hiroshan Samarathunga: Since the inception of Huawei Cloud in 2021, we’ve adopted a novel approach to onboarding cloud partners around the island without limiting them to a megalopolis. This approach helped us to widen the technology startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka and make it available across the country.

Sri Lankan enterprises continue to face forex challenges with their cloud computing settlements, which led us to launch a local cloud option that allows local enterprises to pay in rupees instead of dollars, thereby preventing forex outflows.

Huawei has a programme to certify individuals as Huawei certified software partners, which helps them receive due recognition on the global stage and gain much required global exposure. This initiative was launched to motivate local engineers and software developers.

Q: In what ways does Huawei support engineering staff with career development and provide opportunities for success?

Kumaraguru Niroshan: One of the key ways that Huawei Sri Lanka supports engineering staff is through comprehensive training and development programmes. We invest in technical training to enhance the expertise of our engineers in areas such as telecommunications, network infrastructure, software development and emerging technologies.

By providing access to both internal training courses and external professional certifications such as chartered engineer membership with IESL, Huawei Sri Lanka equips engineers with the necessary skills and knowledge to stay at the forefront of their fields.

We also emphasise career planning and growth for engineering staff, enabling employees to align their aspirations with the company’s objectives. Mentorship programmes and opportunities to take on challenging projects or roles further facilitate their professional development.

As part of a global company, engineers get the chance to work on international projects or collaborate with colleagues from different countries. This exposure to diverse environments and cross-cultural collaborations enables engineers to broaden their perspectives, enhance their skills and develop a global mindset.

– Compiled by Yamini Sequeira